Pentecost Alley - Anne Perry [74]
As soon as Jack had left for his engagement, Emily herself dressed for the evening in one of her older gowns, something she did not intend to wear again, then took the second carriage and directed the coachman to Keppel Street in Bloomsbury.
When they arrived she alighted, gave instructions that they should wait for her, and knocked on Charlotte’s door. As soon as it was answered, by Gracie, she swept in and went straight through to the parlor, where Charlotte was mending one of Jemima’s pinafores.
“Please listen to me,” Emily said. She sat down in Pitt’s chair without bothering to arrange her skirts. “I know the case Thomas is working on at the moment. I have quite a good acquaintance with the sister of his chief suspect, and I know a way we might be able to prove his innocence.” She ignored Charlotte’s surprise. “Believe me, he would be very grateful. It is not a man he would wish to prosecute, but unless someone can show that he was there at the time, he may have to.”
Charlotte put down her sewing and stared at Emily with gravity and growing suspicion.
“I assume from your manner that you already have a plan as to how we shall do this, when the police have failed to?” she said guardedly.
Emily swallowed, then took a deep breath and plunged in.
“Yes I have, actually. He does not really remember where he was, but his sister, Tallulah, was at a party, and she saw him there.”
“Oh yes?” Charlotte said skeptically. “And why has she not told the police this?”
“Because nobody would believe her.”
“Except you, of course.” Charlotte picked up her sewing again. The matter was not of sufficient sense to keep her from it.
Emily snatched it away.
“Listen to me! This really matters!” she said urgently. “If Finlay was seen at this party, in Chelsea, then he could not have been in Whitechapel murdering a prostitute. And if we can prove it, we will not only save Finlay from disaster, we will save Thomas from having to arrest the son of one of London’s wealthiest men!”
Charlotte retrieved the sewing and put it away tidily.
“So what are you suggesting? Why can … Tallulah? … Tallulah … not find some of the other people who were at this party and have them swear that Finlay was there? What does she need you for? Or me?”
“Because she has already denied being at the party,” Emily said exasperatedly. “Please pay attention! She was only there for a few minutes, perhaps half an hour at the most, and she does not remember who else was there either.”
“It seems altogether an extremely forgettable party,” Charlotte said with a wry expression too close to laughter for Emily’s temper. “Do you really believe all this, Emily? It’s ridiculous. She doesn’t remember anyone there except him, and he not only doesn’t remember anyone at all, even his own sister, he doesn’t even remember being there himself!”
“They were taking opium,” Emily said furiously. “The place was a … a shambles. When Tallulah saw what it was like she left. She didn’t remember the other people because she didn’t know them. Finlay didn’t remember because he was out of his senses.”
“That last part I can believe,” Charlotte conceded dryly. “But even if it is all true, what could we do?”
“Go back to the house where the party was and see if it really happened and if it was as she said,” Emily replied, although as she heard herself, it sounded increasingly foolish. “Well … we could at least see if there had been a party that night and if anyone remembered seeing either Tallulah or Finlay. It would prove something.”
“I suppose we might find someone….” Charlotte said dubiously. “But why doesn’t Tallulah go herself? Presumably at least she knows these people? We don’t.” Her eyes narrowed. “Do we?”
“No! No, of course not!” Emily denied it hastily. “But that is precisely why we would be better. We are important witnesses.”
“Where is it?”
“Beaufort Street, in Chelsea. You’d better change into something a little more formal, as if you were going to a party.”
“Since everyone seems oblivious of their surroundings, it hardly seems worth it,” Charlotte